Textile working device



Feb, 193. s E, KALBACH 2313 31216 TEXTILE WORKING DEVI CE Filed April 24, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 MZWZ j v E 8. E. K'ALBACH TEXTILE WORKING DEVICE Filed April 24, 1954 Feb. 3, B936.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 s. E. KALBACH ZEELEM TEXTILE WORKING DEVICE Filed April 24, 1954 GSheets-Sheet 4 :Fl E- FLEE- -11....

Feb. i8, 193%.

Fwh 118, 19360 s E A H ZJU 3L2K6 TEXTILE WORKING DEVICE "ATTOR 3 ammm Feb, 118, M360 s. E. KALBACH TEXTILE WORKING DEVICE Filed A ril 24, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet 6 T1 E- -JLE...

INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFIQE TEXTILE WORKING DEVICE Application April 24, 1934, Serial No. 722,071

14 Claims. (Cl. 101-27) My invention relates to textile-working devices, and particularly to means for providing knitted fabrics with marks of identification or other information.

In marking knitted fabrics and articles of wearing apparel, particularly stockings and. the like, the marks, such as the manufacturers trademark, grade marks, etc., commonly are formed by the use of the so-called transfer paper, which is placed with its inked side against the fabric and a heated stamp placed opposite the back of the paper and pressed against the paper and the fabric. This operation releases the ink and impresses it into the fabric. With the speed required in repeating this operation economically, and the somewhat difficult manipulation of fabrics of this kind, as well as of the pressure required, and the heat of the stamp, the hands of the operator have occasionally been pressed and burned.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to prevent such injury to the operator, and to provide a device in which this danger shall be substantially entirely removed, in the normal use of the device.

The factors above mentioned have also rendered it difficult for an operator to place a mark symmetrically on the stocking or other article of wearing apparel, and to place the marks in the same places on like articles.

It is accordingly, another object of the invention to overcome this objection, and to provide a device by which the marks may be effected with rapidity and uniformity.

In any device heretofore employed in attempting to thus mark fabrics, so far as I am aware it has not been possible to obtain uniform density or shade in the marks, by reason of varying pressures imposed on the stamp. Another aim of the invention is to overcome this objection,

and to ensure that the marks shall be of uniform appearance and durability, by rendering equal the pressures of the several operations on garments or articles of the same kind.

The device being employed at varying times to mark garments of different weights, loop formations, and other characteristics, and it not being known to me that any device, of the character of the invention, has heretofore been adapted to any pressure, except that of the choice of the operator at each operation, it is, therefore,

another purpose of the invention to provide adjustable means whereby individual, or individual sets, groups or supplies of, garments may.

be severally marked by a uniform pressure suited to the requirements thereof.

It is another object to render operation of the device easy, and independent of the variable strength of different operators, usually girls, 5 whereby fatigue of the operators is reduced, and the marks rendered free from varying characteristics from this cause, as has not been true of revious devices of which I am aware.

Other objects are to facilitate manipulation 10 of the transfer paper, to produce a neat, compact device free from elements that are unsightly or likely to snag the fabrics, to provide comfort for the operator, to reduce the withdrawing time of the stamp, to utilize certain ele- 15 ments of the table or support proper as parts of a fluid system, to preclude noise, to provide a stamp actuated by suitable power means, as a fluid operated power device, and which shall be free from pressure variation occurring in a fluid medium or other power source, to warn against unintentional operation of the heater, to provide adjustment of the heat, to provide for the removal of liquids of condensation and accumulation in the fluid system, to have indications of the stamping and stamp-withdrawing pressures readily available, to improve the op: eration of such devices in batteries or sets from a common source of power supply, and to provide a device, of the above indicated character, that shall be simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and effective in its operation.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides in the novel elements of construction, mechanism and combination of parts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view, in top plan, of a textileworking device constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a view, in front elevation, of the structure of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view, in top plan, of the device of Figs. 1 and 2, the table top and parts thereon having been removed,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, partially in front-toback section, and partially in end elevation, viewed in the direction of the arrows 44 at the left-hand side of Fig. 2, having a distance break .Ifidllcing the width of the figure, and showing the upper part of the table; parts of the table top having been removed,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, of portions of the structure as viewed, in front elevation in Fig. 2, parts being in section and others having been removed,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view, partially in side elevation and partially in vertical-plane section, of a cylinder, piston and stamp, as otherwise better seen on, and over, the table top in Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a view, on a slightly enlarged scale, and taken substantially along the line of Fig. 5, of a control-valve mechanism for the device,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail plan view of a work carriage or platen,

Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are views, taken substantially along the correspondingly numbered lines, respectively, of Fig. 8,

Fig. 13 is a diagram of fluid-pressure and electric circuits employed in the invention, together with other elements of the structure arranged in a common plane, and

Fig. 14 is a diagram, similar to that of Fig. 3, of a modified form of the invention.

In the specific example illustrated, a table ll comprises tubular metal legs I 8, !9, 2i] and 2| each having a drain plug or valve 22 sufiiciently above the bottom thereof to place a hand cup near it, and a foot 24 having a top surface near the plug to enable substantially all of any liquid, such as condensed moisture, or oil accumulations, in the leg to flow from the drain plug hole.

A tubular brace 26, near the leg bottoms, extends between the legs I8 and I9, and is secured thereto, as in a sealed conduit system, by which a fluid may flow down one leg, through the brace, and up the other leg. A like brace 21 similarly extends between the legs and 2|, both as a structural brace and as part of a conduit system. The legs also each, when manufactured and before assembly into a table, have a top partition or disc 28, which seals the top end of the leg and may remain this way, or be drilled, or drilled and tapped, according to which leg it is to be in the table; one of the legs remaining so closed, two of the discs being drilled and tapped, and one of them being merely drilled, as will further appear.

Each leg is further provided, at the top, with a preferably cast-metal bracket 29 having a cylindrical portion fitted and secured thereover, a horizontal web portion 30 across the top of the leg, and shoulder portions 3| for attachment to the table board or top 32, as by screws 33. The webs 30, like the discs 28, are also initially solid and allowed to remain closed or to be bored through in accordance with the legs for which they are selected, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3, wherein the top disc 28 of the leg I 8 is closed, the discs of the legs H] and 20 are drilled and tapped for the reception of pipes, and the disc of the leg 2| is merely drilled through.

The table top comprises a rectangular frame constructed of metal beams of angle section having substantial top areas for supporting a top plate or sheet 32, and depending aprons for rigidity. The sheet 32 is preferably of thingauge metal having perimeter or edge beads 3? providing reinforcement and having smooth rounded contour.

A panel or board *9, preferably of wood, Figs. 3, 4 and 5, extends across the table, from front to back, immediately beneath the top sheet 32, to provide a thicker and more rigid base for elements above and below the top, as will appear. The panel 39 is provided with transverseend rabbet grooves 34 whereby it laps the top side of the angle beams, Fig. 10, and has a main top surface flush with the top surface of the beams, on which the sheet 32 rests, and receive clamp strips 38, between which, and the top side of the beams, it is secured by bolts 4|.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, particularly the latter, an upright cylinder 48 has end flanges for mounting top and bottom heads 42 and 43, respectively, secured to the cylinder, as by screws 44, and embodying lateral extensions 45 having vertically aligned openings for the vertically slidable reception of a long leg 46 of a conduit 4'! of inverted substantially U-shape, also having a short leg 48. A sleeve 43 covers the leg 46, between the extensions 45, which enclose friction liners 58, in which the leg 43 slides. The bottom cylinder head 43 constitutes a pedestal or base, secured to the panel 39 through the sheet 32, as by screws 5| and a plate 53, between which and the top sheet 32, the panel 39 is disposed.

The head 43 has bottom openings 52 and 53 for the reception of conduits. The cylinder has a piston bore communicating with the bottom opening 53 and a side by-pass bore 54 establishing communication between the bottom opening 52 and the cylinder bore 55 at the top side of a piston 51. The top head 42 has a stuffing gland 58, through which a piston rod 59 vertically extends from the piston 51. A bracket 6|], secured to the upper end of the piston rod, as by a pin,

has a clamp or seat portion 62 for the conduit 46, and a bifurcated portion providing arms 65 and 65 clamped to the short leg 48 spaced substantial distances therealong to provide an extensive rigid side brace of light weight for the conduit.

A Work member or stamp 31, and a heater 68 preferably of the electrical type, are mounted at the lower end of the short conduit leg 48. Conductors, or wires, 69 extend from below the table, through the conduit 46, to the heater 68.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 8 to 12, inclusive, particularly the latter figures, a work carriage or platen comprises a stationary base 10, of thin plate form, preferably constructed of sheet metal having rounded edges 1| gradually approaching the top surface of the table top sheet 32, thereby being of inverted hollow form having bosses 12 at its underside, from which bolts 13 depend for attachment to the panel 39. Later-ally rounded front-to-back channels 15 at the top of the base 70, constitute runways for balls 16, which support a work-receiving carriage or movable platen 71. A preferably non-metallic inlay 79 is fixed in the base 1'0 at the work position centrally under the stamp 61.

The carriage 11 is also preferably of thin sheet metal of inverted hollow panel section having a rounded perimeter 88, a non-metallic inlay 8| and depending side slotted underslung guide dogs 83 slidable along, and vertically locked in, frontto-back slots 84, in the base 13. The dogs 83 are of slightly less length along the slots 84 than the lengths of laterally-extended rear-end portions 85 of these slots, through which the dogs are initially inserted, after which the portions 85 are provided with inlays or fillers, such as wood blocks. These blocks prevent removal and displacement of the dogs in the slots, and act as non-metallic buffers therefor when the carriage is pushed, by the operator grasping ears 11a from its loading position near the front edge of the table, to the working position under the stamp. Portions 92, on the carriage 'I'I, serve to position the balls I6 relative to the carriage.

Pins 81, vertically liftable in, and slidable along front-to-back slots 88, in the carriage 11, against the action of small springs, are provided as adjustable gauges or position indicators, whereby an operator may accurately repeatedly place fabrics of the same shape and size. A spring I8 is connected at each end, by a pin 82 on the carriage TI, and extends around pulleys 86 journalled to the base I0, by pins 89.

A strip 90, of about the consistency of relatively heavy resilient paperboard, is sprung between slots 9|, in which it fits, and is adapted to receive thereunder, a strip of transfer paper from either of rolls on roll supports 93 and 94 that are mounted on the cylinder til, by bracket arms 95. In the positions of the parts shown, the strip or guide 90 is adapted to receive the transfer paper from the support 93, in which position the work carriage slides from front to back of the table.

This carriage may be mounted to slide parallel to the front of the table by removing the bolts 1'3, turning the base Iii at right angles to the position indicated, and reinserting the bolts 13 into the lugs I2 through openings 96 in the table top, in which position, the guide strip 9|] receives the transfer paper from the roll support 94.

Under the table top, a master or control slide valve 98 is supported at the lower end of a bracket 99 depending from the panel 39, to which it is fixed by screws Iilil. It comprises a central body IOI having a single pipe tap I02, at one side, and two pipe taps I03 and IE4 at the opposite side. A slide-valve element I05, movable longitudinally in one direction, by a rod I66 against the action of a spring I01, and, in the reverse direction by the spring, alternately connects the fluid supply inlet IE2, see Fig. 13, to the down-stroke piston conduit and the up-stroke conduit I94, such that, when either is connected to the cylinder 40, the other is connected to an exhaust conduit I09. A down stroke pressure regulator I I2 and a check valve I I4, being suspended by the piping to which they are connected, a clear understanding of these and adjacent parts will be better had by reference to Fig. 13 wherein the conduits are laid out to avoid confusion in tracing them.

Fluid is conducted from a source (not shown) to a pressure regulating valve H5, at the right as seen in Figs. 2 and 13, past a gauge 116 tapped into the line at the point, down the table leg l8, through the brace 26, up the leg I9, and through a conduit I II to the inlet I02 of the slide valve 98. From the valve 98, the fluid takes one of two paths, as above indicated, one of which is through a direct conduit II8 from the slidevalve port I04. The other fluid path, from the slide valve to the cylinder, extends from the slide-valve tap IIi3, through a conduit II9, the pressure-regulating valve H2, and a conduit I20, to the cylinder inlet 52, Fig. 6, and through the cylinder side bore 54 to the upper side of the piston 57. A pressure gauge I22 is tapped into this path at the valve H2, by a conduit I23, and the check valve 4 is connected in a by-pass circuit I24 about the valve II4, so that pressure from the slide valve 98, as reduced by the valve H2, is passed to the cylinder through the valve II2; the check valve II4 preventing the passage of fluid toward the cylinder. When the slide valve is reversed, the fluid being expelled from the cylinder tap 52, may pass freely through the check valve II4.

A treadle I 26 is pivotally mounted on a bracket I 21 at the underside of the table board, and is connected to the operating end I06 of the slide valve 98. In the electric circuit of the heater 68, as better seen in Fig. 13, one of the conductors 69, of Fig. 6, extends to a push button switch I29, and, from the switch I29 through a lineheater-circuit indicating lamp I38, and through an adjustable rheostat I32 to a supply circuit I34, to which the other conductor 69 directly extends.

In operation, with the operator sitting at the front of the table, and the stamp heater properly adjusted, a knitted article is placed on the carriage 11 against the pins 81. The transfer paper is drawn off the roll 93, through the guide 96, and a portion of it, between theguide and the supply roll, positioned on the article. The carriage is then moved, against the action of the spring it, until the dogs 83 engage the bulfer blocks 85, whereupon the treadle I26 is operated to lower the heater to heat the transfer paper, while firmly pressing it against the fabric. The impression on the paper being thus transferred to the fabric, the treadle is reversely operated, the piston raised, and the carriage returned to the front of the table, whereupon the above cycle of operation may be repeated.

The legs I8 and I9, and the cross brace 26, beingof very much greater fiuid-containing-capacity than an equivalent length of the ordinary standard conduit, there is thereby provided a pressure-reserve supply, without the requirement of a separate tank, to compensate for pressure drop and fluctuations from the fluid-supply source. This feature is particularly valuable in maintaining uniform operation, where a series or battery of such machines are operated from a common fluid source.

Likewise, the legs 20 and 2|, together with the cross brace 21 constitute an effective exhaust muffler, whereby the machine, with its numerous reverse reciprocations of the cylinder, is rendered quiet, and a battery of a large number of simi- I26, which also operates as a comfortable foot and leg rest. Operators of different sizes and strength may therefore operate the device equally well during long intervals of time.

Having substantially a minimum of structure over the smooth table top, the edges of the latter being beaded, and the parts near the fabricworking positions being smooth and rounded, as at the platen and carriage edges II and B0, snagging is prevented, and the free and easy manipulation of the fabric ensured.

With the transfer paper strung over the carriage from one of the carrier rolls 93 and 94 to the guide of holding strip 93, it is always in convenient position over' the work for movement lengthwise off the roll, downwardly to position on the fabric and laterally to the working position.

The provision of the carriage 'II practically assures that the operator will keep his or her hands a safe distance from the hot pressing stamp 61, and precludes injury by the stamp in the usual operation of the device.

The device is easily adjustable to different pressing forces, speeds and temperatures suiting the requirements of various fabrics, and is an improvement generally in the art to which it relates.

Gil

It is of ready and economical manufacture, and its use materially facilitates and economizes the work for which it is intended, besides providing marks of uniform position and color density.

In Fig. 14, in which corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference characters, the combined table and fluid-actuating and control structure includes and extends through to the fluid exhaust leg from the main pressure valve N5, the gauge H5, the leg I8, the brace 2& the leg IS, a conduit I31, a slide valve 83a, a conduit I36, the leg 26, and the brace 21. The treadle E26 and its actuating rod. I86 are substantially the same as in the pressure figures.

A cylinder 453a, corresponding to the cylinder of the first described form, is however, located beneath the table top H, and has its piston rod 59a, pivotally connected to a bell-crank lever I40 that is secured to the underside of the table top, as by a bracket MI. A rod or link I42 extends from the bell-crank lever I40, through the table top, to a stocking-expanding form, I43, of usual and well-known type, that is mounted on the table by a support I44, and has a projecting end I45 over which a stocking is fitted. This end, in a manner not further necessary to an understanding of the invention as claimed, comprises two parts, like that shown in the drawings, which are moved toward and away from each other in a plane normal to the plane of the drawings.

With the ends together, a stocking is placed over the end I45, and the treadle I26 operated to actuate the piston rod 53a, which operates, through the bell crank I 40 and the link I42 to eifect lateral spreading of the legs of the expanding form, and to extend the stocking fabric for a better view of its loops and seams, which are examined for irregularities or fiaws. In this form, by the ease of frequent pressure and release operations of the lever mechanism of the invention, an operator does not hesitate to expand and contract the expanding form as often as an effective examination requires.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described, by which I obtain the above results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a device for transferring prints to articles including in combination, a base member, a reciprocable platen mounted on the base member, a platform having a thin metallic surface beaded at the edges thereof for supporting said base member and platen, said base member and platen having their respective edge portions curved downwardly toward said platform, whereby a smooth graduated descent from the surface of the platen to the surface of the table is provided, thereby protecting the article worked upon from injury incident to sharp edges, and a die unit also mounted on said platform, and means for actuating said die unit.

2. In a device, for use with mechanism to transfer prints onto fabric articles, comprising an adjustable base, tracks located on the upper surface of said base, a platen mounted for reciprocation on said tracks, both said base and platen having downwardly sloping edge portions whereby a smooth gradual descending surface is provided from the top of the platen to the bottom of the base, and adjustable locating means on the platen for positioning the fabric thereon prior to a transfer operation.

3. A textile working device comprising a support having a thin metallic surface with downwardly beaded edge portions, an adjustably mounted base member supporting a reciprocably mounted platen, each said platen and base having its respective edge portions curved downwardly towards the support, whereby a smooth gradual descending surface is provided from above the platen top and extending down below the top of the support, a heated die unit mounted in juxtaposition to said base and platen, and adapted to be reciprocated toward and away from the platen during a working operation, means for supporting transfer paper reels at spaced points about the die unit, and means mounted on the reciprocable platen for supporting a strip of transfer paper leading from one of said reels to said platen.

4. In a textile-working device, a table, and means for manipulating a fabric over the table top and adapted for frequently-repeated operation, with substantially a minimum of effort by an operator, comprising fabric-carriage supporting means on the table over the top thereof, a fabric carriage movably mounted on the supporting means, means for affecting the fabric on the carriage, and manually-controlled means actuable independently of the degree of force above a predetermined minimum force applied by the operator for controlling the actuation of said fabric-affecting means.

5. In a textile-working device, a table, and means for manipulating a fabric over the table top and adapted for frequently-repeated operation, with substantially a minimum of effort by an operator, comprising fabric-carriage supporting means on the table over the top thereof, a fabric carriage movably mounted on the supporting means, means for affecting the fabric on the carriage, and manually-controlled means actuable independently of the degree of force above a predetermined minimum force applied by the operator for controlling the actuation of said fabricaffecting means, and including foot-operated means responsive to simple forward movement of the operators foot from any one of a plurality of positions on, or laterally of, a line forwardly from the position of the operator naturally assumed in the normal operating position relative to the table.

6. In a textile-working device, a table, and 7 means for heat stamping a fabric on the table and avoiding burning and/or pressing an operators hands, including guide means on the table top, a fabric carriage disposed on the table top reciprocable on the guide means toward and away from a loading position adjacent to the operators position at the table, the carriage being reciprocable between the loading position and a location spaced therefrom for stamping the fabric, a stamp reciprocable substantially perpendicularly to the table top over the stamping location, means for heating the stamp, means for actuating the stamp, and means for reducing fatigue of the operator including manually-controlled means actuable independently of the degree of force above a predetermined minimum force applied by the operator for controlling the operation of the stamp actuating means.

7. In a textile-working device, a table, and means for heat stamping a fabric on the table and avoiding burning and/or pressing an operators hands, including guide means on the table top, a fabric carriage disposed on the table top reciprocable on the guide means toward and away from a loading position adjacent to the operators position at the table, the carriage being reciprocable between the loading position and a location spaced therefrom for stamping the fabric, a stamp reciprocable substantially perpendicularly to the table top over the stamping location, means for heating the stamp, means for actuating the stamp, means for selectively adjusting the actuating means to any one of a plurality of pressure values for repeated equal stamping operations at the selected pressure, and means for reducing fatigue of the operator including manually-controlled means actuable independently of the degree of force above a predetermined minimum force applied by the operator for controlling the operation of the stamp actuating means.

8. In a textile-working device, a table, and means for heat stamping a fabric on the table and avoiding burning and/or pressing an operators hands, including guide means on the table top, a fabric carriage disposed on the table top reciprocable on the guide means toward and away from a loading position adjacent to the operators position at the table, the carriage being reciprocable between the loading position and a location spaced therefrom for stamping the fabric, the fabric-receiving top surface of the carriage being parallel to, and above, the adjacent top surfaces of the table and having a perimetral margin descending gradually from the top surface of the carriage to the top surface of the table, a stamp reciprocable substantially perpendicularly to the table top over the stamping location, means for heating the stamp; means for actuating the stamp, and means for reducing fatigue of the operator including manually-controlled means actuable independently of the degree of force above a predetermined minimum force applied by the operator for controlling the operation of the stamp actuating means.

9. In a textile-working device, a table, and means for heat stamping a f abrio on the table and avoiding burning and/or pressing an operators hands, including guide means on the table top, a fabric carriage disposed on the table top reciprocable on the guide means toward and away from a loading position adjacent to the operators position at the table, the carriage being recipro'cable between the loading position and a location spaced therefrom for stamping the fabric, a stamp reciprocable substantially perpendicularly to the table top over the stamping location, means for heating the stamp, means for actuating the stamp, to move downwardly at one speed and upwardly at a higher speed, and manually-controlled means operable independently of the degree of force above a predetermined minimum force applied by the operator for controlling the operation of the stamp actuating means.

10. In a textile-working device, a table, and means for heat stamping a fabric on the table and avoiding burning and/or pressing an operators hands, including guide means on the table top, a fabric carriage disposed on the table top reciprocable on the guide means toward and away from a loading position adjacent to the operators position at the table, the carriage being reciprocable between the loading position and a location spaced therefrom for stamping the fabric, a stamp reciprocable substantially perpendicularly to the table top over the stamping location, means for heating the stamp, means for actuating the stamp, to move downwardly at one speed and upwardly at a higher speed, means for selectively adjusting the actuating means to move the stamp downwardly by any one of a plurality of pressures in accordance with a characteristic of a fabric being stamped for repeated equal stamping operations on like fabrics at the selected pressure, and manuallycontrolled means operable independently of the degree of force above a predetermined minimum force applied by the operator for controlling the operation of the stamp actuating means.

11. In a textile-working device, a table, and means for heat stamping a fabric on the table and avoiding burning and/or pressing an operators hands, including guide means on the table top, a fabric carriage disposed on the table top reciprocable on the guide means toward and away from .a loading position adjacent to the operators position at the table, the carriage being reciprocable between the loading position and a location spaced therefrom for stamping the fabric, means responsive to release of the carriage at any position spaced from the loading position to move the platen to the loading position, a stamp reciprocable substantially perpendicularly to the table top over the stamping location, means for heating the stamp, means for actuating the stamp, and means for reducing fatigue of the operator including manuallycontro-lled means actuable independently of the degree of force above a predetermined minimum force applied by the operator for controlling the operation of the stamp actuating means.

12. In a textile-working device, a table, and means for inspecting a knitted stocking over the table top and adapted for frequently-repeated operation, with substantially a minimum of effort by an operator, comprising fabric-carriage supporting means on the table over the table top, a fabric carriage constituting a stockingexpanding form supported by the carriage-supporting means, the stocking-expanding form being an elongated unit supported adjacent to one end by the carriage support and adapted to have a stocking pulled onto it over the other end for laterally spreading the stocking by elements of the unit to permit a view through knitted loops of the stocking, means for actuating the expanding form, and manually-controlled means actuable independently of the degree of force .aloove a predetermined minimum force applied by the operator for controlling the operation of the stocking-expanding form.

13. Textile working apparatus comp-rising a device movable to engage and act upon a fabric, fluid operated means for actuating said device, a platform supporting said means, device and fabric during said engagement, and a fluid system for operating said means, including a source of fluid under pressure, hollow legs for said platform connected to said source and constituting a reservoir for said fluid, and means for controlling the flow of fluid from said legs to the means for actuating said device.

14. Textile working apparatus com-prising a device movable to engage and act upon a fabric, fluid operated means for actuating said device, a platform supporting said means, device and fabric during said engagement, and a fluid system for operating said means, including a source of fluid under pressure, hollow legs for said platform connected to said source and constituting a reservoir for said fluid, means for leading exhaust fluid from said device to a muffler, and legs for said platform constituting said muffier.

SAMUEL EDWARD KALBACH. 

